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Pettis integral

Pettis integral is a mathematics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Pettis integral rather than just read about it. In short: In mathematics, the Pettis integral or Gelfand–Pettis integral, named after Israel M. Gelfand and Billy James Pettis, extends the definition of the Lebesgue integral to vector-valued functions on a measure space, by exploiting duality.

Key takeaways

  • Pettis integral belongs to mathematics; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Pettis integral to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Pettis integral from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In mathematics, the Pettis integral or Gelfand–Pettis integral, named after Israel M. Gelfand and Billy James Pettis, extends the definition of the Lebesgue integral to vector-valued functions on a measure space, by exploiting duality. The integral was introduced by Gelfand for the case when the measure space is an interval with Lebesgue measure. The integral is also called the weak integral in contrast to the Bochner integral, which is the strong integral.

Definition Let f : X → V {\displaystyle f:X\to V} where ( X , Σ , μ ) {\displaystyle (X,\Sigma ,\mu )} is a measure space and V {\displaystyle V} is a topological vector space (TVS) with a continuous dual space V ′ {\displaystyle V'} that separates points (that is, if x ∈ V {\displaystyle x\in V} is nonzero then there is some l ∈ V ′ {\displaystyle l\in V'} such that l ( x ) ≠ 0 {\displaystyle l(x)\neq 0} ), for example, V {\displaystyle V} is a normed space or (more generally) is a Hausdorff locally convex TVS. Evaluation of a functional may be written as a duality pairing:

⟨ φ , x ⟩ = φ [ x ] . {\displaystyle \langle \varphi ,x\rangle =\varphi [x].}

The map f : X → V {\displaystyle f:X\to V} is called weakly measurable if for all φ ∈ V ′ , {\displaystyle \varphi \in V',} the scalar-valued map φ ∘ f {\displaystyle \varphi \circ f} is a measurable map. A weakly measurable map f : X → V {\displaystyle f:X\to V} is said to be weakly integrable on X {\displaystyle X} if there exists some e ∈ V {\displaystyle e\in V} such that for all φ ∈ V ′ , {\displaystyle \varphi \in V',} the scalar-valued map φ ∘ f {\displaystyle \varphi \circ f} is Lebesgue integrable (that is, φ ∘ f ∈ L 1 ( X , Σ , μ ) {\displaystyle \varphi \circ f\in L^{1}\left(X,\Sigma ,\mu \right)} ) and

φ ( e ) = ∫ X φ ( f ( x ) ) d μ ( x ) . {\displaystyle \varphi (e)=\int _{X}\varphi (f(x))\,\mathrm {d} \mu (x).} The map f : X → V {\displaystyle f:X\to V} is said to be Pettis integrable if φ ∘ f ∈ L 1 ( X , Σ , μ ) {\displaystyle \varphi \circ f\in L^{1}\left(X,\Sigma ,\mu \right)} for all φ ∈ V ′ {\displaystyle \varphi \in V^{\prime }} and also for every A ∈ Σ {\displaystyle A\in \Sigma } there exists a vector e A ∈ V {\displaystyle e_{A}\in V} such that

⟨ φ , e A ⟩ = ∫ A ⟨ φ , f ( x ) ⟩ d μ ( x ) for all φ ∈ V ′ . {\displaystyle \langle \varphi ,e_{A}\rangle =\int _{A}\langle \varphi ,f(x)\rangle \,\mathrm {d} \mu (x)\quad {\text{ for all }}\varphi \in V'.}

In this case, e A {\displaystyle e_{A}} is called the Pettis integral of f {\displaystyle f} on A . {\displaystyle A.} Common notations for the Pettis integral e A {\displaystyle e_{A}} include

∫ A f d μ , ∫ A f ( x ) d μ ( x ) , and, in case that A = X is understood, μ [ f ] . {\displaystyle \int _{A}f\,\mathrm {d} \mu ,\qquad \int _{A}f(x)\,\mathrm {d} \mu (x),\quad {\text{and, in case that}}~A=X~{\text{is understood,}}\quad \mu [f].}

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Pettis integral

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Pettis integral claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In mathematics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Pettis integral before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Pettis integral ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Pettis integral

In research
Pettis integral appears in mathematics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Pettis integral in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Pettis integral is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Functional analysis, Integrals, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Pettis integral outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Pettis integral in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Pettis integral means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Pettis integral out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pettis integral in simple terms?

In mathematics, the Pettis integral or Gelfand–Pettis integral, named after Israel M. Gelfand and Billy James Pettis, extends the definition of the Lebesgue integral to vector-valued functions on a measure space, by exploiting duality.

Why does Pettis integral matter?

Because it connects several mathematics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Pettis integral?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Pettis integral.

Tags

  • Functional analysis
  • Integrals

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